Tube clamp



Dec. 21, 1948. v WOQLSEY 2,457,077

TUBE CLAMP Filed Dec. 10, 1946 A a: .91 w wt 315/5 v w lie i0 INVENTOR.M042 4.

AZTUFNEY Patented Dec. 21, 1948 U'NIJTED- STATES PATENT OFFICE? TheodoreAlanjwoolsey, Inglewood, Calif.,. assi'gn: or toMii'rmamPrbdhcts 06.,Inc, a vcorporation of California! Application-December-v 10,1946;:Seri'al N 0. 715,249

7 Claims. (Cl. 285-129) This invention relates-r to'..tub'e ;clamps.;Its general object. is. to provide an emeientclamp for connecting theends of: tubular-a-membersin ad-t joining relation;

The invention utilizeswa construction in which tension developed Y in a"constrictor ring is trans-. formed into pressure in atpair ofxa'xially'opposed compression ring units that are inclined conical- 1yinwardly and toward each 'other fromthe :con stricter ringto'fianges orshoulders on .the adjoining. tube ends to produce opposed, axiallydirected forces pressing the'tube endsntogether. As'particular object ofthe present invention is to provide "a clamp of this type that is: quitesimple and inexpensive in construction. l Anoth er object is to providea clamp oftthis typeuthat is::-easily assembled with adjoining. pipeends. A further object is to provide sucharclamp-ihaw ing maximumefficiency of conversion of- 'con stricting tension into axialpressure."

A particular object of my invention is' t'owprovide :a clamp of-thistype whichis especiallly's'uitable for embodiment in a heavy dutystructure:

Other objects of the invention-will becomeapparent in'th'e ensui'n'gspecifications;- in connect tion with the appended drawings; in wl iichaFig.1 is a sectional-view of i a 1 tube clamp embody'in'g one formofmyinventlong Fig.- 2 is a 'sectionalyiewof '9; tube-dampen: body-ing asomewhat modified" form of -the' vention;

Fig. 3 is a section'alview ofa-tube clamp em bodyinganother modifidio'rmof the invention;

Fig'; 4"is a side view of a' portion of "oneform of compression ringth'at'may be embodiedin either of "the forms of the inventionzfshownFigs. 1', 2, and 3;

Fig. 5 is aside view ofya portion of amodifled form of-compressionringthat may beem'b'odi'ed in either of the "formsshown'in'Figs; l, 2,13:

Fig. 6 is a sideyiew. ofv a portion of'ganother modified form ofcompression ringth'at maybe employedineither of the forms of theinvention shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3;and

Fig.7 is a sectional view throng-ha portionof a tube assembly embodyingmy invention,

Fig. 8 is. a sectional view-of alportionofa tube, assembly, embodyingamodifiediormfof the in'.-.. vention;

Fig; 9 is aisectionallviewofa portionro'flatube assembly embodying 5another modification of. the invention; I

Fig. l0 is a sectionalview of, a portion of .a tube assembly embodyingafurther modification of the-invention;

it and *tubev'members i0, I l-.

Figs lll :is a sectional view. .of. a portion: of. ,a tube assembly-embodyi ng. ano.thermodifiedlfor'in of; the inventions In. the. formsoithe invention shown inrig i, a pair-o-f tubular members llliand ll haveabuts ting ends formed with flanges I2 which provideabuttingnendsurfaces l3 adapted to make. sealing engagement with, each:other. 7 The-opposite sides of-the-fiangesm-l 2 provide. frusto-conicalshoulders I 4 for coaction withthe compression rings 1510f my, improved.tube clamp. f

The compression rings 15 .are -frustoeoonicai'. Their inner edges areengaged against the. shoulders. l4 and-their peripheral edges,areengaged in-corners l6 rdefinedibetween the rim portion It ofivaretainer ring .and'the-side: fiangesi 810i such. retainer ring.

The ringsv I 5 and. ;l 1 ,I 8 are split rings i. I e.-, they; arecircumferential-lyinterruptedby, slots such; astthe slots: 1 9,-320,.shownrinFig. '7.-

Constricting pressure is applied :to the retainer ring FL-IB by atension bandil whichmay; like the band 2| in Fig. '7, have its ends bentoutwardlyt to. form' ears -22 throughwhichmay be passeda-.clamp;.bo1t-23. Ahead-e24 on one ;end of-.-ttl 1e bolt: may; applypressure-Ito .0118.- 'of' the T ears; I 22* through 3-sleeve -2 5;.i-anda nut 26-threadedonthe othenz-end of; the bolt may-app1y pressure-1 0"ie other: ear :22 through asleeveiih I As.-.the-.-tension band 21-isdrawn tight,- radial Pressure is applied: through the retainer ring vi1 to; the peripheral edgessof -.the rings-415.; Such radial. pressuretendsetoi spread the peripheral edges ,of,-=the rings 1 I 5 -,1apart..Such. spreading movement is. prevented by the-flanges i 8, .whic.htherefore app-1y, axial, pressure ,to. the peripheries of.- theirings 1|5. The-constricting v.iorc(es-applied to the; flanges l 2 through theinclined compresvsionrmembers [5 therefore tproducei axial; result: antsof pressure against theshoulders, M forct ing the abutting faces I 3into i sealin engagement. The ratio rbetweenrthe constricting ioms andtheraxial .force. resulting .therefrom depends upon, the, anglesubtended: between the rings l5 This angle is, indi catedzattawin-Fie. iL. The angle a. may be greaterv or less =thanx45 degrees although anangle of ap proximately- ;45 degrees is. found .to be quite.satisiactory immost installations. Where the angle a iii 45 degrees,they-ratio between;theconstricte ing; pressure-sand the-axialpressure-51s. unity- With an; anglebf less than. 145. deglfeesj alei-yen. constrictingi spressure will produce-set greater axialresultant.

A clamp. maybe assembled with, thel-tubesrsl 0-,

3 H by first inserting the rings l5 over the ends of the tubes III, II(spreading them sufficiently to pass over the flanges l2) then slidingthe rings l5 into engagement with the shoulders Hi, then spreading theretainer ring l1, l8 sufficiently to pass it over the peripheries of therings and subsequently drawing it together around the rings I5. I

Some deformation of the rings 15 will take place under the clampingaction of the retainer ring IT. This tends to set up circumferentialstresses in the rings l5 which stresses may be partially relieved bynotches 28 in the inner periphery of the ring as shown in Fig. 4, ornotches 28' in the outer periphery of the ring l5 as shown in Fig. 5.These notches may also serve for weight-saving purposes. Fig. 6illustrates how the rings 15 may be provided with openings 28" forweight-saving.

v The notches 28, 28' may, in addition to their functions pointed outabove, also provide for ventilation in high temperature applications.

In large diameter installations there may be sufficient resiliency inthe material of rings I5, I5a, |5b to eliminate the necessity for thenotches 28, 28'.

i A particular advantage of the invention resides in the fact that therings l5 may fulcrum against the shoulders I6 and readily assume theangles required by the various radial and axial dimensions of the ringsl5, IT, I 8 and flanges I2. For example, as the retainer rin I1, i8 isdrawn tighter and its diameter decreased, the angle a will becomesmaller, the rings l5 tilting against the shoulders 14 and I6. Suchtilting movement will be resisted only by the inherent resistance of therings 15 to change in shape. The added resistance to the tilting of thecompression rings, which would be occasioned by having the rings I5formed integrally with the retainer ring [1, is eliminated. There istherefore a maximum conversion of radial constricting force into axialpressure. a

' The rings 15 are very readily stamped from sheet metal and may beidentical with each other. They also may be fabricated by rolling stripsteel into conical shape and cutting to proper lengths. This reduces diecost and facilitates manufacture. Theretainer ring I1, l8 may be givenits cross sectional shape in a rolling operation in which a long stripof material having the final or approximately the final cross sectionalshape, is formed, Such strip may then be cut into correct lengths andthen curled in a subsequent rolling operation, to form the split rings.The corners [6 completely confine the'peripheries of the rings l5 so asto maintain said peripheries se- 18a are extra thick, being formed byrolling a channel 244 into a ring so as to form the rim member Ilabetween the thickened flanges [8a.

The compression rings [5a are, in this case, en-

gaged between the shoulders Mia and flanges l2a. on the tube membersIlla, I la respectively. The

flanges l2a have radial shoulders 14a instead of the inclined shouldersM, such radial shoulders combining with the peripheral surfaces of the 4tubes Ilia, i la to define corners in which the inner extremities of therings 15a are'confined. The action is the same as in the form shown inFig.1, the tension band 2! tightening the retainer ring il'a, 58aagainst the compression rings l5a.

Fig. 2 also illustrates how one of the tubes, as for example the tubema, may be formed with an axially projecting flange 26! which isreceived in a counterbore 21! in the end of the tube I la to improve thesealing.

I have found that where several cylinders with dome heads are to beclamped, with the cylinders so close together that a standard clamp willnot clear, that the structure shown in Fig. 3 may be successfully used.In this case, a compression ring liib is formed integrally with theretainer rim lib at one side thereof while a flange I81) turned inwardlyfrom the other side of the rim lib forms a shoulder IBb in which isconfined the periphery of a free compression ring 15b. The innerextremities of the compression rings 15b, l5b'- areengaged againstshoulders 29 formed at the inner extremities of the side walls of achanneled sealing ring 30. The sealing ring 30 embraces flanges I21) onthe respective tube members lob, lib. Herethe axial compression that isdeveloped as the result of resolution of radial constricting forces intoaxial components provides a double seal for the ends of the tube memberIflb, Hb. That is, the abutting faces of the flanges I2b are pressedtogether to provide an interior seal, while the flanges 29 are pressedagainst the outer surfaces of the flanges l2b to provide an exteriorseal. Compressive force is provided by the tension band .Zlb actingagainst the constrictor rim l'lb.

The shoulders M need not necessarily be formed by flanges such, as 12,12a, etc. Instead, shoulders [do may comprise side faces of annulargrooves 3| machined or rolled into the tube ends lllc, No, as shown inFig. 8.

Fig; 9 illustrates another form that may be given to the abuttingsurfaces of the tube ends. Mating frusto-conical end surfaces 32 providefor self alignment and automatic balancing of forces in the rings i5d. I1

Fig. 10 illustrates another form of this selfalignment feature, in whichthe frusto-conical surfaces 32c extend through only a portion ofthethi-ckness of the tube members Hie, He, and in which radial sealingsurfaces I36, l3e engage a gasket -33 interposed therebetween.

Instead of the radial flanges l8, 18a, l8b of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, theretainer rings Hf may have channeled flanges I8 in which axial flanges34 on the peripheries of the rings 15/, may be loosely. received. Thestructure is the same in principle as the other forms of the invention,since the peripheral extremities of the rings are free to tilt withreference to the channels l8). a

I I claim:

1. Means for clamping together the abutting ends of tubular members,comprising a retainer ring including a rim portion and ashoulder'projecting radially inwardly from at least one side thereof, apair of frusto-conical compression rings extending inwardly and towardeach other from the respective sides of said retainer ring, at least oneof said compression rings floatingabe; tween the retainer ring and arespective tubular member, the rim portion and shoulder of saidretainer'r'ing defining a corner in which 'the periphery of saidfloating compression ring is confined against movement relative to theretainer sive action thereagainst by the retainer ring',said

compression rings functioning to resolve inwardly directed compressiveforces into axial pressures applied to said tubular members so as tourge them toward each other, said tubular members having outwardlyextending radial flanges and sealing ring having a channel portionreceiving and embracing said flanges and axially projecting shoulderportions at the inner extremities of said channel portion, in which theinner peripheries of said compression rings are seated, the side wallsof said channel portion being adapted to be pressed into sealingengagement with the outer surf-aces of said two flanges by the axialpressures exerted thereagainst, and to thereby press said flanges intoface to face engagement, whereby to effect a double seal.

2. Tube clamping means as defined in claim 1, in which said compressionring has a plurality of radial notches opening into its inner periphcry.

3. Tube clamping mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said onecompression ring has a plurality of radial notches opening into itsouter periphery.

4. Tube clamping mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which said onecompression ring has a plurality of apertures intermediate its inner andouter peripheries.

5. Means for clamping together the abutting ends of tubular membersprovided with radially outwardly extending flanges, comprising a sealingring having a channel portion receiving and embracing said flanges andaxially projecting shoulder portions at the inner extremities of saidchannel portion, and a compression ring including a rim portion and apair of frusto-conical members extending inwardly and toward each otherfrom the respective sides of said rim portion, the inner edges of saidfrusto-conical portions being engaged against said shoulder portions andoperative in response to constricting pressure applied through said rimportion, to press the walls of said channel portion into sealingengagement with the outer surfaces of said tube flanges and to transmitto said flanges, pressure for pressing the engaging faces of saidflanges into sealing engagement with each other, whereby to effect adouble seal.

6. Means for clamping together the abutting ends of tubular membersprovided with radially outwardly extending flanges, comprising a sealingring having a channel portion receiving and embracing said flanges andaxially projecting shoulder portions at the inner extremities of saidchannel portion, and a compression ring including a rim portion and apair of frusto-coni-cal members extending inwardly and toward each otherfrom the respective sides of said rim portion, the inner edges of saidfrusto-conical portions being engaged against said shoulder portions andoperative in response to constricting pressure applied through said rimportion, to press the walls of said channel portion into sealingengagement with the outer surfaces of said tube flanges.

7. Means for clamping together the abutting ends of tubular membershaving radially outwardly extending flanges adapted to come together inabutting relation, said means comprising a sealing ring including achannel portion receiving and embracing said flanges and axiallyprojecting shoulder portions at the inner extremities of said channelportions, a constricting ring, and pressure transmitting meansconverging inwardly from said compression ring and engaging the saidshoulder portions to transmit from said constricting ring to saidsealing channel, radially inwardly converging forces the resultants ofwhich are effective to press the walls of said sealing channel againstsaid flanges to effect a seal.

THEODORE ALAN WOOLSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,937,881 Fisher Dec. 5, 19332,424,436 Crater July 22, 1947

